Irrigation System Question
 

My house is five years old and the irrigation system is supposed to have a feature where it doesn't turn on if there has been rain. The problem is that we can get a downpour and the system comes on shortly afterward.

I know that there is a sensor on the side of the house and it's has a little wafer thing that swells up when it rains and prevents the system from turning on.

Does anyone know how to fix this or do I have to call someone to service it?

Try calling:

Central Pump & Supply
352-315-1075
2404 West Main St., Leesburg

They used to have them in stock. If you go there, I would take a photo of your sensor, because there are several different types. Very easy to install yourself.

Thanks

I would bet that ACE has the part.

I don't want to bet, but I think that ACE Hardware only sells the entire rain sensor unit which would not include the "solar sync" part. It would require you to cut the wires and replace the entire outside unit with a device that would only detect the rain, and you would lose the solar sync function in your Hunter controller. And, you would need to splice and reconnect the wires together. Central Pump and Supply sells a replacement part for just the Hunter rain sensor device. So, you would not need to cut and splice the wires, and you would retain the solar sync function. Some people have replaced the outside unit with just a rain sensor, but usually they install a wireless rain sensor instead of a wired device like the one sold at ACE.

Mine seems to work in reverse.....I start watering at 4 AM and several hours after it finishes it rains. I tried out smarting it by trusting the weather forecast and if it said rain then I turned it off and.....it never rained. Oh yeah, replaced the wafer thingy two years ago and the auto off works fine. I suspect that will need to be done every couple years. When it does rain I do check the panel to make sure it is turned off and so far, knock on anything that resembles wood, it is still working.

Where did you buy the wafer thingy? I haven't found them anywhere.

Correction - Anywhere but Ebay. I just don't trust Ebay.

Why don’t you trust Ebay with PayPal? You are limiting you ability to buy online. EBay has 100% satisfaction and return policy, plus you can rate the seller. Lot has free shipping. Something you don’t get on Amazon unless you have prime or buy certain dollar mount.

The Hunter sensor drys out so fast in the Florida sun and heat it is less than useful. Not unusual to call for watering two days after a heavy rain

The Orbit B-Hyve controller looks at data from local weather stations and future forecasts to only water when needed. Also wifi and can be controlled manually remotely. Less than $100.

Orbit b•hyve

That policy has not translated into reality for me for un-received shipments from a vendor with a long history of fraud. Buyer beware...

eBay is the way to go , have bought a quite a few , around 8$

Here is the link to one seller

8 Hunter Irrigation Mini Clik Rain Sensor Hygroscopic discs - w/ Brass Washer | eBay

I have over 400 transactions on EBay and have never had a problem of any sort.
There are bargains to be had there, no doubt. NEVER buy batteries or printer ink anywhere else---the prices are SO GOOD compared to retail.

The outside sensor on a wireless system has a battery that needs to be replaced periodically.

Your answer is to buy a WIFI irrigation controller. A Hunter 6 zone will cost about $170 on Amazon, the 12 zone are another $75 or so. This might less than a service call and will fix the problem once and for all.

The Hunter irrigation controllers use local weather stations to monitor rain fall.

Below is a picture of my TV irrigator. Every place you see the slash through it means it didn't irrigate due to rainfall. I kick it on every day on two tiny zones for 2 minutes to juice some flowers. Once a week I do a big water for everything else.

You can also control it from anywhere in the world and it will alert you if it thinks one of your valves is failing.

It takes about 15 minutes to install. If you have a screw driver, you can do it yourself. I have one at my NJ home as well.

http://thewellrats.com/malbor2/totv/watering.jpg